Automatic grain-meter



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. C. KING. AUTOMATIC GRAIN METER. No. 383,362. Patented Mey 22, 1888.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. C. KING. AUTOMATIC GRAIN METER. N0. 383,362.. Patented May 22, 1888.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-*Sheet 3.

J. C. KING. AUTOMATIC GRAIN METER.

No. 383,362. Patente-d May 22, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GrricE..

JACOB C. KING, OF YORK, FENNSYLVANA.

UTOMA'TlC GRAlNHMETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,362, dated May 22, 1888,

Application led February 6, 1888, Serial No. 263,103. (No model.)

To all whom it may concerti:

Be it known that I, Jacoe C. Kino, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county ot' York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain-Meters, of which the following is aspecitlcation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in automatic grain-meters, and it is an improvement upon the invention for which Letters Patent ot' the United States were granted to me the 26th day ofrlpril,1887,No. 361,878.

The objectof the presentinvention is to provide improved means whereby the weighingbeam is automatically operated to return the parts to weighing position after thc hopper has been discharged; to provide an improved scalebeam and weight-adjusting device to operate in connection with the weighing-beam; to provide improved means l'or regulating the movement of the weight on the wcighing-beam,and to hold the weighing-beam when required, as will more fully hereinafter appear. These objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a top view of my improved meter complete; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3, au elevation ot'a portion of the meter, taken on the side'opposite to that shown in Fig. 2, the valve on the feeding-spout being removed. Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of the meter, taken through the hopper on the line :c x of Fig. l. Fig. 5 represents an elevation of a detached portion ot' the meter, showing the holding devices. Fig. 6 represents a detached elevation of a portion oll the holding devices. Fig. 7 represents a detached sectional view ol' a portion ofthe holding device, showing the locking-bolt projected. Fig. 8 represents a similar view, showing the bolt drawn back. Fig. 9 represents a detached elevation ofthe weighing-beam, the graduated beam, the weight-adjusting device, and the devices for controlling the movement of the weight. Fig. l0 represents a perspective view of a portion of the weighing-beam, graduated beaux, and weight-adjusting device, and Fig. 11 indicates a sectional view of a portion of the weighing-beam, showing a buffer, which receives the blow ofthe weight when the weighing-beam is operated by thc falling of the hopper.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indientes the frame of the machine, constructed of metal or other suitable material. At opposite sides of the frame are standards D, having bearings for the projections C of the beamframe D, the said projections being provided with knife-edges, which rest in the bearings before mentioned.

E indicates the hopper, which is provided with lugs F on opposite sides, the said lugs having v1-shaped openings, which rest upon the knife-edges of the projections G on the inside of the beam-frame D. The said hopper is provided with an opening at its bottom, which is closed when the hopper is elevated by means ot the valves H at the lower ends ofthe swingingarms l, which are 4pivoted at their upper ends to the upper part of thc hopper. These valves have, extending laterally and obliquely upward theretrom,the arms K, which are provided with friction-rollers L at their ends, which are adapted to ride upon the inclined plates M, secured to the frame A, when the hopper is depressed, and open the valves for the discharge ofthe grain from the hopper.

The letter N indicates the feed-chute, to one side ot' which are pivoted the upper ends of a bifureated arm, F, the lower end ot which is slotted and has fulcrumed in it a bent lever, R, which has a valve, S, at one end, which keeps the lower end otl the chute closed when the hopper is down. The said lever is provided with a bent arm, T, which bears againsta f riction-roller, U, on the frame D above mentioned.

The letter V indicates the weighing-beam, which forms part of the frame D, and which consists of an oblong rectangular trame, upon the longer parallel sides ot` which is adapted to travel a rolling weight, XV. rlhe said parallel sides at the rear have their upper edges slightly inclined at a, and between such rear portion of the said sides is located a butterplate, X, which has a curved arm, Y, below, which bears against the lower face of a sliding angle-plate, Z, which rests and is adapted to TOO move on parallel ways A' on the inside of the weighing-beam. The said buffer-plate is pivoted to the forward portion of the angle-plate .and is pressed normally forward by means of a spiral spring, B'. At the rear extremity of the weighing-'beam is a standard, C', through which passes an adjusting-screw, D', the forward end of which has a plain extension having abearing in the upright portion of the an gle-plate, whereby the said plate and bufferplate may be adj usted on the ways A.

The letter E' indicates a graduated beam, which is stationary and secured to the frame A. The said graduated beam is parallel to the vertical plane in which the weighing-beam moves, and is provided. with an adjustable slide, F', having an upright extension, G', adapted to move between the parallel sides of the weighing-beam. The said slide is provided with a setscrew, H', by means of which it may be clamped at any position on the graduated beam to which it may be adjusted. The beam E' is graduated on its upper surface, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and the extension' on the slide serves as a stop to the rolling weight, so as to hold it at any desired point on the weighing-beam when its forward end is down to provide for weighing different quantities of grain.

I indicates a standard rising from the front of the frame A. The said standard is bent laterally and downward, and within the standard is secured one end of a spring-arm, K', extending dircetly over the weighing-beam, the free end ofsaid arm beinginclined downwardly, so that it may come in contact with the rolling weight as the same travels to the rear of the weighingbeam and diminish its momentum, so as to avoid injury to the same. The standard is provided with a projection, L', having a setscrew, M', bearing against the spring-arm, by means of which it may be adjusted to bear with more orless force upon the weight as it passes.

The letter M"indicates an arm secured to a stud on frame D, hereinbefore mentioned. Said arm extends into the casing of the registering device N and connects with and operates the registering mechanism, which is of the ordinary construction. The pointer-shaft of the said device projects at the rear ot' the casing,which is provided with a graduated dial, P'. The projecting end of the shaft issuitably shouldered and screw-threaded, and to it is secured an adj ustable hand or pointer, R', which may be held in any desired position upon the shaft by means of a screw-clamping nut, S'.

T' indicates a vertical standard secured to the frame A, having bearings V' at its llpper end for a sliding bol t, W'. The lower side of the bolt is partly cut away, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, leaving a shoulder, X', which may be caused to engage the edge of the ,outer bearing, so as to hold the bolt when drawn back, as shown in Fig. 8. The bolt is screw-threaded at one end and has Aand movably secured at said lower end to the frame A by means of a bolt, B2, or otherwise. The upper end of said rod extends through an opening in one ofthe bearings V', its point resting against the lower side of the cut-away portion of the bolt. The said rod is provided with a lateral projection, C2, which extends across the path of the hand or pointer R', so that the rod will be raised thereby when the said hand or pointer reaehesit, as more fully hereinafter' explained.

To the forward end of the frameA isseeured by means of a set-screw a slotted rest, D2, for the forward end ot' the weighing-beam, by means of which the downward movement of said end may be limited.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description, and is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. l,with the adjustable slide F' set so as to hold the rolling weight at the proper point on the Weighingbeam to permit it to tip when the desired weight of grain is run into the hopper, the meter is ready for use. The grain is then per` mitted to run in through the chute and collects in the hopper until its weight overbalances the rolling weight on the weighing-beam. The hopper then drops, causing the valves at the bottom to open to discharge the grain and at the saine time closing the valve of the chute, stopping the feed of the grain. In the meantime the weighing-beam has assumed the position shown in Fig. 3, with the rolling weight resting against the buffer-plate. During its passage down the beam the roller comes in contact with the spring-arm K,which arrests its momentum, the buffer-plate finally taking up the shock of the impact of the weight, thus relieving the parts and preventing injury to the same. Vhen the hopper has been eruptied, the rolling weight again moves to its original position, the valves of the hopper autornatically close, and that of the chute opens, and the weighing begins again automatically, this automatic operation being continued until the desired amount of grain has been weighed out. Previous to starting the weighing operation the hand or pointer R' on the shaft of the registering device is adjusted to a proper position in connection with the dial to operate the vertical rod A2 when the desired amount of grain has beenweighed, the bolt W' having been drawn and held back in the manner hereinbefore described. When the hand or pointer reaches the projection of the vertical rod, it lifts it, disengaging the bolt and permitting the spring to project it, so as to engage the weighing-beam when itis tipped, so as to lock it in the position shown in Fig.

IOO

3 et the drawings and stop the operation of the meter.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The eombination,with the weighing-beam, ofthe angle-plate located on ways therein,the butter-plate pivoted thereto, the spiral spring, and the set-screw whereby the buffer is adjusted, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in agrain-meter, of the weighingbeam, `the rolling weight, and the spring-arm K, whereby the momentum ofthe weight is partially overcome, substantially as specified.

3. The combination,with the pivoted weighing-beam, the rolling weight, and the springarm K, of the adj listing screw, whereby said arm may be adjusted to bear against the roll ing weight with different degrees of foree,substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the frame ofthe weighingbeam, of the registering device and the rod which operates it, the adjustable hand on the shaft of said registering device, the vertical rod having a lateral projection operated thereby, the shouldered bolt mounted in bearings in a vertical standard, and the spiral spring, whereby the bolt is operated to stop the action of the meter at any desired point, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the frame of the machine, the weighing-beam pivotally hung thereon, the hopper pivotally hung to the weighing-bearn,the registering device mounted on the said frame and operated by an arm attached to the weighing-beam, and a hand or pointer on the shaft of the said registering device, of a spring-actuated bolt mounted in bearings in close proximity to the weighingbeam, and means connected with the registering device, substantially as described, for operating this sliding bolt, whereby it is caused to engage with and stop the weighing-beam, as herein specified.

6. Theco1nbination,with the weighing-beam and the hopper hung thereon, ofthe register ing device operated by the movement ot' the weighiugbeani, the sliding bolt mounted in bearings in close proximity to the weighingbeam, and means, substantially as described, for operating this sliding bolt connected with the registering device, whereby the bolt is caused to engage with the weighing-beam and hold it when the desired quantity of grain is weighed, substantially as specified.

7. In a grain-meter, the combination, with the frame of the machine, the pivoted weighing-beam and hopper, and the rolling weight upon the said weighing-beam, of an independent stationary graduated beanr, E', secured to the frame of the machine, and an adjustable stop, F, npon the said graduated heannwhere by t-he travel of the said rolling weight upon the weighing-beam may be regulated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB C. KING. lVitnesses:

SOL Knorr, JOHN C. SraNGLnn. 

